Ketchikan's school district says students who made racist remarks and sounds violated their school’s code of conduct. The district offered a lengthy apology along with the investigation’s findings.
The incident sparked an outcry in the community and around the state. Tribal leaders and community members from Ketchikan, Metlakatla and elsewhere said in interviews and statements that they took the students’ country dress as a “cowboys and Indians” theme. They called it an offensive reference to the trauma endured by Indigenous people.
“Our pep club could be jerks, but we’re not racists,” said sophomore pep club member Stevie Kamm in a Feb. 10 interview. The school district said it would immediately institute a new plan for selecting future pep club themes, implement a new sportsmanship agreement and consult the First Alaskans Institute for racial equity training. The district said it would also conduct a “racial equity audit” of district policies and develop a long-term racial equity strategic plan alongside key stakeholders.